Six-run sixth carries Golden Giants past Rattlers

Teams combine to issue 17 walks

Spikes were made for walking Friday at Jerry Robertson Field. Topeka and Rossville pitchers combined to issue 17 base on balls in a Golden Giants 14-4 win over the Rattlers.

The Golden Giants, the first-place team in the Mid-Plains League, were able to overcome a shaky starting pitching performance to improve to 21-8 in league action.

Rossville (7-20) plated three runs in the first inning against Topeka starter Robert Hill. Hill issued five walks in the inning and allowed the third run to score on a bases-loaded walk. Washburn Rural graduate and current Pittsburg State Gorilla Luke Bordewick opened the Rattler scoring with a single to drive in Jeff Christen.

Topeka wasted no time erasing the Rattler lead as the Giants scored four runs in their half of the first. Butch Rea singled and scored on a double by Connor Crimmins. The Giants would score two runs in the inning via two Rattler throwing errors. Rossville would finish the game with a total of four errors.

Ryan Ihle picked up the win in relief. Ihle entered the game in the second inning inheriting two runners with no outs. He got out of the inning allowing just one of those runners to score. That run was an unearned run as a result of Topeka’s lone error of the game.

Ihle gave up just two hits while striking out seven batters in six innings. Senators coach John Tetuan emphasized the significance of Ihle’s effort out of the bullpen.

“It was huge for us. That saved some pitching for us for next week. Ryan came in and pretty much shut them down the rest of the game,” Tetuan said. “Our batters did a good job keeping us in the game and keeping things positive in the dugout.”

Topeka broke open the game with a six-run sixth inning. JB Eary opened the frame with a leadoff walk and would come around to score on a RBI double by Jake Wodtke. Jordan Schroer and Michael Thomson.

Eight of the nine Topeka starters crossed home plate in the contest, and all but one had at least one hit. Johnathan Mariani, Miles Orscheln, Ian Hughes and Wodtke had multi-hit games for the Golden Giants.

Topeka finishes its series with Rossville and their regular season with a 7 p.m. game Saturday.

“We didn’t talk long after the game, but we talked about that we can sweep the whole series tomorrow, and we need to come out and play a nice, crisp game to stay on a roll for tournament games,” Tetuan said.